Silly Me...I Forgot To Mention...I Cheated

Chatpter Twenty Two: A Wager

(Y/N)'s Pov

I feel myself wake up on an hard surface...I'm on my back. I open my eyes and sit up. I can only see darkness and it's everywhere around me. I stand up and look around and continue to only see darkness, there is no sound anywhere. I have no mask on.
(Y/N): "Hello..."
No response, I decide to walk straight to see if I can find an exit to this place.

Unknown Amount of Time Later...

How big is this place? I've been walking for a long time and there is no end in sight. I stop walking and look around and still see darkness all around me. I close my eyes to think. I then feel a breeze on me. I open my eyes and I feel my mouth open when I see that I'm now suddenly in a meadow. I look around and spot a small stream flowing through the meadow. I look to where the stream will end up and I see a big tree. I see a table with someone sitting at it. I make my way over to them so I can ask where I am.
...
As I get closer to the tree I see that the stream almost surrounds the tree with a little footpath allowing access to the tree. I walk across the footpath and into the shade of the tree, it feels really nice.
???: "Ah, hello again!"
I look at the table and see that guy from the casino, the owner.
(Y/N): "You're...Ferdinand. Right?"
Ferdinand: "You are correct. would you care to take a seat?"
I look at the other end of the table and see a chair. I scoff and walk over to it and take a seat. I look back to Ferdinand and see that he has a solitaire game in front of him. I look over Ferdinand and what he's wearing. He is wearing a dark grey button up shirt. His dark green suit jacket is hanging from the back of his chair. His golden blond hair isn't combed at all. Ferdinand looks up at me with a smile.
Ferdinand: "So how was your train ride?"
(Y/N): "...How do you know about that?"
Ferdinand: "Lets not talk about that and instead talk about this."
Ferdinand reaches behind him into his suit jacket and pulls out one of the red gems I've been collecting. My eyes widen as I stare at the gem, it was bigger that all the other ones I have collected. Ferdinand chuckles a little.
Ferdinand: "I see you're interested in this little thing. However I'm not going to give it to you for free."
(Y/N): "What do you want?"
Ferdinand: "You see, the people who tried to capture you on the train have overstepped their boundaries. I want you to knock them down a peg."
(Y/N): "What would you want me to do to this group?"
Ferdinand: "Somewhere in Vale they have a workshop where they make their some of their equipment. I want you to destroy it."
(Y/N): "So if I destroy this workshop you will give me the gem?"
Ferdinand: "No because that's boring so let's spice it up with a small wager. If you can find and destroy the workshop in three days then you'll get the gem."
(Y/N): "What! But I don't know where it is."
Ferdinand: "If you don't think you can handle the challenge then you're just gonna have to not collect all the gems."
I fall silent and think through my options. If I don't take the wager then I don't get the gem. And back at the casino when that man, Alric, put a gun to Ferdinand's head he wasn't that concerned so threatening him isn't an option. I sigh and look back to the gem.
(Y/N): "...I'll take the wager on one condition."
Ferdinand: "Your condition?"
(Y/N): "I want to ask you a question right now."
Ferdinand's smile gets bigger.
Ferdinand: "Then we have a deal. Now your question?"
(Y/N): "What was the deal with that black abyss from earlier?"
Ferdinand's smile completely vanishes. He looks back down to his solitaire game.
Ferdinand: "That...is what we call the Void."
(Y/N): "The Void?"
Ferdinand: "It is equatable to Hell. The Void is a place that...torments you with crippling isolation...unless it decides to torture you with memories from your past. The memories can be normal or completely altered."
(Y/N): "Why was I there?"
Ferdinand: "I'm sorry but you are out of questions."
I stare at Ferdinand for a bit longer. When I asked about this Void his character completely changed. I get up from the table and start to leave Ferdinand to his game.
Ferdinand: "Wait..."
I turn and see Ferdinand had gotten out of his chair. He walks over to me and puts a hand in his pocket.
Ferdinand: "I won't be unfair to you. So take this..."
Using his free hand, Ferdinand grabs my left hand. Pulling his hand out of his pocket he puts something into my hand. Releasing my hand Ferdinand backs away.
Ferdinand: "Now...I believe I've kept you here long enough. So wake up."
My head starts to pound and then there's a bright flash of light.
Ferdinand: "...I hope you have nothing but good fortune mister (L/N)."

...

My eyes shoot open and I sit up. Upon doing so my side erupts in pain. I put my left hand to it and I feel something in the hand. Moving my hand within my sight I see a small glass vial with a golden liquid inside it. I try to get out of bed...but everything hurts too much so I fall onto the floor. I try to get back up but I can't, everything hurts too much. I've been pushing myself too hard, the injuries and exhaustion have caught up to me. I should have actually taken a break, especially after getting shot in the shoulder. Looking at the vial again I decide I have nothing else to lose. Removing the stopper I bring the vial up to my nose and sniff. I don't smell anything so I bring the vial to my mouth and tilt my head back. As the golden liquid enters my mouth I start feel myself want to vomit. The liquid tastes awful, it's very bitter. Fighting back against coughing the liquid back up I force myself to swallow the liquid down. Breathing heavily I feel something new. Attempting to stand up, I find myself having no trouble getting up. I look around and see that I'm in my bedroom. I hear a shuffling outside my bedroom door. I turn to the door as it opens. Ruby and Emerald enter the room, Emerald is carrying a tray of food.
Emerald: "Thanks for opening the door Ruby."No problem."
I see them look at me and their faces fill with concern. Emerald sets the tray down and they both rush over to me.
Emerald: "(Y/N)! What are you doing out of bed you need to rest!"
Ruby: "Yeah, you've been through a lot!"
Both of them drag me back to my bed. Emerald goes and grabs the tray and walks back over to me and sets it on my lap.
Emerald: "Here, I brought you breakfast."
I look at the meal Emerald had brought me. It was scrambled eggs and buttered toast. Before I can say anything Ruby turns my face towards her.
Ruby: "Hey...the scratches on your face are gone."
Emerald turns my face to herself and gets closer.
Emerald: "Yeah...I thought there would at least be some scars but...there's nothing."
(Y/N): "I guess the scratches weren't that bad."
Emerald: "But from what I heard Raven had to remove pieces of your mask that were embedded into your face."
(Y/N): "Why does it matter? All that should matter is that I'm recovering quickly."
Emerald: "I guess..."
The conversation dies down. I think to myself and decide on the best course of action to find this workshop.
(Y/N): "Actually I have a request for both of you..."
E/R: "Yes?"
(Y/N): "I want you two to look around Vale for anything suspicious."
Ruby: "Why?"
(Y/N): "Because it could lead to us getting another gem. And if you help me get it...I will take an actual break."
Ruby and Emerald both look at each other wide eyed.
Emerald: "Alright, we'll do it."
(Y/N): "Okay, also you can bring whoever you want just keep a low profile."
They both nod and make their way out. Emerald stops at the door while Ruby makes her way out.
Emerald: "One more thing. Winter is in the dungeon along with the rest of team CVFY."
I lightly smack a hand to my forehead. I had forgotten all about that mess when I got kicked off the train.
(Y/N): "Thank you for the information. I'll talk to CVFY once I finish my breakfast."
Emerald: "Well, I'll get going now."
As Emerald makes her way out I start to eat my breakfast. Some things linger on my mind. First, how should I approach CVFY. And secondly, the last thing Ferdinand said to me...how does he know my last name...
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